Combination pen and pencil writing device

ABSTRACT

A single writing instrument forming a combination pen and pencil and which is comprised of an elongated cylindrical body portion having a removable tubular cap portion at one end thereof and having a reduced diameter opening at the opposite end thereof, and with a pen type writing unit and a pencil type writing unit each mounted in the body portion for axial movement along the axis thereof and with each unit being separately movable between a writing position projecting outwardly of the reduced diameter opening of the body portion and a retracted position disposed within the body portion, a coiled spring associated with each writing unit and biasing each writing unit toward its retracted position, and locking devices associated with each writing unit for both guiding the axial movement of the separate writing units between its writing position and retracted position and also adapted to maintain each unit in its writing position when desired by an individual using the device.

United States Patent [191 Robbins [4 1 Feb. 11,1975

1 1 COMBINATION PEN AND PENCIL WRITING DEVICE Inventor: Geoffrey Robbins, 2869 Dirheim Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 4521 1 Filed: Jan. 7, 1974 Appl. No.: 431,331

U.S.Cl ..401/17,401/31,40l/l12 Int. Cl B43k 27/10, B4314 24/12 Field of Search..... 401/16, 17, 112, 109, 31-3,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 680,799 1/1965 Italy 401/112 Felipe 401/17 PrimaFy Examiner-Lawrence Charles Attorney, Agent, or Firm--Marden S. Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A single writing instrument forming a combination pen and pencil and which is comprised of an elongated cylindrical body portion having a removable tubular cap portion at one end thereof and having a reduced diameter opening at the opposite end thereof, and with a pen type writing unit and a pencil type writing unit each mounted in the body portion for axial movement along the axis thereof and with each unit being separately movable between a writing position projecting outwardly of the reduced diameter opening of the body portion and a retracted position disposed within the body portion, a coiled spring associated with each writing unit and biasing each writing unit toward its retracted position, and locking devices associated with each writing unit for both guiding the axial movement of the separate writing units between its writing position and retracted position and also adapted to maintain each unit in its writing position when desired by an individual using the device.

3 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures COMBINATION PEN AND PENCIL WRITING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to writing devices and more particularly to a novel and improved combination pen and pencil writing device which includes therein a pen writing unit and a pencil writing unit with such units adapted to be quickly interchanged with each other.

2. Description of the Prior Art While it has been known in the prior art to provide pen type writing instruments of the multiple writing unit type with such pens having writing units therein containing inks of different colors to provide a quick color-change when desired by an individual using the same, such have been of a bulky and hard to handle construction such that other than for novelty uses the same have not been popular among the populace. Similarly, pencils provided with multiple writing units having leads of different colors have been provided in the prior art, but such have suffered from the same disadvantages as the aforementioned multiple writing units pens such that they have not been popular with the populace.

Such multiple writing unit pens and such multiple writing unit pencils suffer from one or more disadvantages, such as being overly complex to manufacture and thus expensive topurchase, complex in operation so as to be subject to frequent breakage and repair and maintenance problems, bulky in diameter and size so as to be uncomfortable in the hand of the individual attempting to write with the same, difficult to replace writing units when the ink or lead requires replacement, and the like.

Individuals in their day-to-day living frequently re quire both a pen and a pencil for different purposes at different times such that individuals must retain on their person such required pens and pencils, this being bulky in an individuals pocket and providing difficulties in use should such pen and pencil have to be used interchangeably on a particular job or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes the need for an individual to have a pen and a pencil readily available, and considering the deficiencies and disadvantages of presently available multiple unit writing instruments of the pen variety and of the pencil variety, the present invention provides a novel solution thereto in the form of a single writing instrument which is in the form of a combination pen and pencil writing device wherein ei ther the pencil unit or the pen unit may be utilized interchangeably by an individual with the device being of a compact construction and providing ease of operation to the individual.

It is a feature of the present invention to provide a combination pen and pencil writing device which is relatively simple in its construction and which therefore may be readily manufactured at a relatively low cost and by simple manufacturing methods.

A further feature of the present invention provides a combination pen and pencil writing device which is possessed of few parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order with such parts being readily re paired or maintained by the individual without requiring any special skills or expertise.

Still a further feature of the present invention provides a combination pen and pencil writing device which is easy to use and reliable and efficient in operation.

Yet still a further feature of the present invention provides a combination pen and pencil device which is aesthetically pleasing of refined construction and attractive in appearance.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the writing device of the invention partially broken away to illustrate interior details thereof;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the writing device partially broken away to illustrate interior details thereof and with the two writing units being in the retracted position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partially sectioned elevational view of the pusher member and locking device associated with each writing unit with the writing unit illustrated in the retracted inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but with the device shown locked to the cap to retain the writing unit in its operative writing position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the pusher member and locking device; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded perspective view of the writing end of the pencil writing unit for the feeding of lead out of the writing unit lead holder.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a combination pen and pencil writing device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in its entirety by the reference numeral 10, the same being substantially in the form of a pen instrument and having an elongated generally cylindrical formed casing 11 which is comprised of a cylindrical body portion 12 and a removable tubular cap portion 13 which is threadedly secured to the body portion and with the cap portion being provided with a pocket clip 14.

The body portion 12 is comprised of a hollow open ended tubular outer case or housing 15 with one end thereof decreasing gradually in diameter in dome-like form as indicated by reference numeral 16 to terminate in a coaxial opening 17 of decreased diameter through which pen writing unit 18 and pencil writing unit 19 are individually and selectively presented for writing use as is hereinbelow more fully described. The other end of the housing 15 is designated by reference numeral 20 and is provided with screw type threads 21 about the interior periphery of the housing bore 22, the threads adapted to threadedly receive a threaded collar portion 23 which is formed integrally with the bottom end of cap portion I1 and is of a reduced diameter relative to the diameter of the cap portion such that the cap portionis removably threadedly received on said body portion. The other end of the cap portion 11 is designated generally by reference numeral 24 and is provided with a pencil eraser 25 which is mounted therein with a portion thereof projecting outwardly therefrom in a conventional manner. A cylindrical ring 26 fits about the projecting end of eraser 25 and rests on cap portion end 24 and projects coaxially outwardly therefrom and has mounted therein a pen eraser 27 which projects outwardly therefrom. It is to be understood that, in operation, pen eraser 27 may be used as illustrated in the drawings; and when an individual wishes to use pencil.

eraser 25 it is only required that the ring 26 be removed from the cap portion 13, this effecting the removal of pen eraser 27 such that pencil eraser 25 is exposed for use. Further, it is to be understood that rather than cap portion 13 being threaded to body portion 12 it is envisioned within the scope of the present invention that the cap portion may be removably frictionally retained on the body portion.

Disposed in casing 11 and guided for axial movement along the axis of the casing are the pen writing unit and the pencil writing unit 19, the pen writing unit being of a conventional ballpoint type construction having a writing end 29 and an elongated ink containing barrel 30,- with the pencil unit 19 having an elongated barrel 31 terminating at a writing end 32 with the writing end adapted to receive a graphite pencil type refill lead 33 in an elongated cylindrical recess 34 at the writing end with the end of the barrel having axially extending slotted perforations 35 disposed at angulardispositions about the circumference thereof and with the circumference at the end having screw threads 36 disposed thereabout and which is adapted to receive in a threaded manner a cylindrical ring shaped grip nut 37 having a somewhat tapered interior bore 38 which is provided with screw threads 39 therein adapted to be threaded into threads 36 with the nut as it is threaded onto the writing end compressing the sections 40 of the writing end defined between slots 35 radially inwardly in a manner to firmly frictionally grip the circumference of the lead 33 thus retaining the lead in any selected position projecting outwardly of the pencil writing unit. Forconvenience purposes this mechanism is henceforth-referred to as theclutch device for the feeding of lead out of the lead holding writing unit 19.

The barrels 30 and 31 are each provided at the top ends thereof with a reduced diameter portion 42 which defines a shoulder portion 43 where the reduced diameter meets with the normal diameter of the barrel, with each reduced diameter having its terminal end 44 tightly received in a recess 45 provided in the base of a pusher member 46 such that movement of the pusher member axially of the casing 11 effects the simultaneous movement therewith of the associated writing unit. Each pusher member 46 is comprised of a cylindrical base 47 having an L-shaped operating arm 48 projecting vertically outwardly therefrom with the leg portion 49 of the arm projecting radially thereto in a manner to pass outwardly of an associated axially elongated slot 60 provided in the side wall of the cap portion 13, there being two slots 60 provided with one slot being for each of the pusher members 46. The bottom surface of cylindrical member 47 is provided with an annular radially outwardly projecting flange 50 which is formed integrally therewith and which is provided along a circumferal edge thereof with a vertically downwardly projecting resilient locking arm 51 terminating in a wedge shaped radially outwardly projecting flange 52 which is adapted to be detachably received in an annular recess 53 defined about the interior surface of cap portion 13 at a position spaced axially downwardly from the terminal ends of associated opening 60.

Extending normal to the axis of cap portion 13 and disposed in the interior bore thereof at a position adapted to engage the shoulder portion 43 of each of the barrels 30 and 31 is a partition 54 provided with a pair of apertures 55 extending axially therethrough and each of a diameter to permit the reduced diameter sections 42 of each barrel to pass therethrough such that the shoulder portions engage the bottom surface of the partition. Disposed concentric with each reduced section 42 of each barrel 30 and 31 is a coiled spring 56 having one end in abutment with the top surface of partition 54 and having the opposite end in abutment with the bottom surface of flange 50 of the associated pusher member 46, each spring biasing its associated writing unit 18 and 19 to its inoperative retracted position vertically upwardly in the casing 11 in a manner to retain pusher member leg portion 49 in engagement with the top end of its associated slot 60.

In operation an individual selects to use either the pen unit 18 or the pencil unit 19 and then depresses the pusher leg portion 49 for the selected unit downwardly relative to casing 11 and in the direction designated by arrow 59 in FIG. 4 effecting the axial movement of the selected writing unit along the axis of the casing to its writing position where wedge member 52 engages annular recess 53 and with the associated tip of the selected writing instrument projecting outwardly of reduced diameter opening 17 in body portion 12 thus assuming the operative writing position. To retract the writing device from its writing position it is only necessary that an individual slightly radially depress leg portion 49 in a direction inwardly of the cap portion 13 so as to slide wedge member 52 radially outwardly of annular recess 53 to free the wedge member therefrom. at which point the spring 56 will urge the pusher member 46 axially upwards along the casing until leg portion 49 engages the top of its associated slot 60 with this movement effecting the retraction of the writing unit until the writing tip thereof is again disposed in a retracted position.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed 1. A combination pen and pencil writing device comprising an elongated cylindrically shaped casing comprised of a housing member being of hollow dome shape at one end and having an axial opening of reduced diameter at said one end and being open at said other end and removably receiving on said other end a tubular cap member of substantially the same diameter as said housing member, means removably assembling said tubular cap member in end-to-end coaxial relation with respect to said other end of said housing member, a pair of elongated writing units disposed in said casing and extending axially therealong, one of said writing units being a ball point pen with the other of said writing units being a mechanical pencil, said writing units being mounted in said casing for axial movement along the axis of said casing with each of said writing units being separately movable between a writing position wherein the writing end of said unit projects through said reduced diameter opening of said housing member and to a retracted position wherein said writing end of said writing unit is disposed inwardly of said casing, spring means biasing each writing unit to its retracted position in said casing, a combined pushing member and locking means mounted on each of said writing units and operable to effect the axial reciprocal move ment of each individual writing unit axially of said casing between their respective writing positions wherein said locking means retains said writing unit against re traction by said spring means, and said retracted position wherein said locking means permits said spring means to retract said writing unit into a position inwardly of said casing, said combined pushing member and locking means each comprises a pushing member comprised ofa collar having a top surface and a bottom surface, a recess in said bottom surface adapted to tightly engage therein the adjacent end of said associated writing unit, an L-shaped operating arm having its base portion aligned with said collar member and pro jecting outwardly of the top surface thereof and having its leg portion projecting radially to the axis of the collar, an axially elongated slot provided in a side wall of said cap portion and adapted to receive said leg portion in a manner projecting therethrough for axial guidance thereof between a retracted and writing position of said writing unit, an annular flange formed integrally with the bottom surface of said collar and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, an axially extending arm formed integrally with a peripheral edge of said flange and extending downwardly therefrom in position adapted to be placed adjacent to an interior surface of said cap portion, said arm being manufactured of resilient material, and said arm terminating in a radially outwardly directed wedge portion, said cap portion provided with a recess adapted to be engaged by said wedge portion when said writing unit is in the operative writing position projecting outwardly of said casing.

2. The combination pen and pencil writing device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising each of said writing units having a shoulder portion defined a short distance inwardly from said terminal end thereof, a partition extending in said cap portion in a direction normal to the axis thereof and having a pair of apertures extending axially therethrough, said apertures being of a size and configuration adapted to pass said terminal end portion of each of said writing units therethrough with said shoulder portion thereof being engaged at an underneath surface portion of said partition, and wherein said spring means comprising a coiled spring disposed concentrically about said terminal end portion of each writing unit and extending between a top surface of said partition and an underneath surface of said flange member of said associated combined pushing member and locking means.

3. The combination pen and pencil writing device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pencil writing instrument is comprised of an elongated barrel having a writing end disposed adjacent the reduced diameter opening of said housing member, said writing end being comprised of an elongated cylindrical recess extending inwardly of said barrel, a plurality of axially extending circumferally spaced apart slots extending a short distance from the edge of said barrel along the walls thereof and defining a plurality of axially extending prong like members therebetween, the exterior circumference of said writing end being provided with a screw thread overlapping said slots and said prong members, a grip nut of a cylindrical ring shaped configuration having a tapered interior bore provided with screw threads and adapted to be threadedly received on said writing end threads with rotation of said grip nut about its axis effecting the inward deflection of said body members in a manner to grip a cylindrical length of writing lead passing therethrough in a manner to retain the writing lead projecting outwardly of the barrel through said grip nut in any selected desired position. l l 

1. A combination pen and pencil writing device comprising an elongated cylindrically shaped casing comprised of a housing member being of hollow dome shape at one end and having an axial opening of reduced diameter at said one end and being open at said other end and removably receiving on said other end a tubular cap member of substantially the same diameter as said housing member, means removably assembling said tubular cap member in end-to-end coaxial relation with respect to said other end of said housing member, a pair of elongated writing units disposed in said casing and extending axially therealong, one of said writing units being a ball point pen with the other of said writing units being a mechanical pencil, said writing units being mounted in said casing for axial movement along the axis of said casing with each of said writing units being separately movable between a writing position wherein the writing end of said unit projects through said reduced diameter opening of said housing member and to a retracted position wherein said writing end of said writing unit is disposed inwardly of said casing, spring means biasing each writing unit to its retracted position in said casing, a combined pushing member and locking means mounted on each of said writing units and operable to effect the axial reciprocal movement of each individual writing unit axially of said casing between their respective writing positions wherein said locking means retains said writing unit against retraction by said spring means, and said retracted position wherein said locking means permits said spring means to retract said writing unit into a position inwardly of said casing, said combined pushing member and locking means each comprises a pushing member comprised of a collar having a top surface and a bottom surface, a recess in said bottom surface adapted to tightly engage therein the adjacent end of said associated writing unit, an L-shaped operating arm having its base portion aligned with said collar member and projecting outwardly of the top surface thereof and having its leg portion projecting radially to the axis of the collar, an axially elongated slot provided in a side wall of said cap portion and adapted to receive said leg portion in a manner projecting therethrough for axial guidance thereof between a retracted and writing position of said writing unit, an annular flange formed integrally with the bottom surface of said collar and projecting radially outwardly therefrom, an axially extending arm formed integrally with a peripheral edge of said flange and extending downwardly therefrom in position adapted to be placed adjacent to an interior surface of said cap portion, said arm being manufactured of resilient material, and said arm terminating in a radially outwardly directed wedge portion, said cap portion provided with a recess adapted to be engaged by said wedge portion when said writing unit is in the operative writing position projecting outwardly of said casing.
 2. The combination pen and pencil writing device as set forth in claim 1 further comprising each of said writing units having a shoulder portion defined a short distance inwardly from said terminal end thereof, a partition extending in said cap portion in a direction normal to the axis thereof and having a pair of apertures extending axially therethrough, said apertures being of a size and configuration adapted to pass said terminal end portion of each of said writing units therethrough with said shoulder portion thereof being engaged at an underneath surface portion of said partition, and wherein said spring means comprising a coiled spring disposed concentrically about said terminal end portion of each writing unit and extending between a top surface of said partition and an underneath surface of said flange member of said associated combined pushing member and locking means.
 3. The combination pen and pencil writing device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pencil writing instrument is comprised of an elongated barrel having a writing end disposed adjacent the reduced diameter opening of said housing member, said writing end being comprised of an elongated cylindrical recess extending inwardly of said barrel, a plurality of axially extending circumferally spaced apart slots extending a short distance from the edge of said barrel along the walls thereof and defining a plurality of axially extending prong like members therebetween, the exterior circumference of said writing end being provided with a screw thread overlapping said slots and said prong members, a grip nut of a cylindrical ring shaped configuration having a tapered interior bore provided with screw threads and adapted to be threadedly received on said writing end threads with rotation of said grip nut about its axis effecting the inward deflection of said body members in a manner to grip a cylindrical length of writing lead passing therethrough in a manner to retain the writing lead projecting outwardly of the barrel through said grip nut in any selected desired potition. 